Process of raising the melting-points of fatty acids.



ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW SOLOMIONOFF, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILL & BAUlVIER COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF RAISING THE M ELTING-POINTS OF F ATTY ACIDS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW SOLOMONOFF, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of Raising the Melting-Points of Fatty Acids, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a process of hardening fats, stearic acid, palmitic acid and other fatty acids, naphtha acids, commonly known as sludge acid, waxes and the like.

The object of this process is the hardening of such materials for the purpose of raising the melting point and making the material amorphous so that the same may be used for the manufacture of candles; also for the purpose of rendering stearic acid and similar materials hard so that they may be used for insulating and other purposes in the art.

My further object is to provide a process by which the above named materials may be rendered harder and have a firm body so that the materials may be used in the arts in which they cannot now be used by reason of their low melting point.

To illustrate,the best quality of ordinary commercial stearic acid melts at from 128 to 130 F. By this process I am able to very materially increase the melting point and render amorphous the same at a very small additional cost.

One concrete method of carrying out this invention is to treat the foregoing materials in either a solid, powdered or granular form with an anhydrous alkali, either organic or inorganic.

I do not limit myself to any particular anhydrous alkali, as I have found that various anhydrous alkalis such as ammonia and anhydrous salts of ammonia or other alkalis with carbonic or certain other acids will produce the effect and accomplish the object desired.

By anhydrous alkalis, it is meant ammonia gas NH sodium oxid Na O; pot-assium oxid K 0; dry sodium caustic NaOH; and dry potassim caustic KOH.

I have found by practice and experience that by treating the material either ina granular, powdered or solid condition with an anhydrous ammonia NH a reaction takes place producing an anhydrous am- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1908.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911. Serial No. 450,951.

acids a stream of ammonia gas NH or they are mixed with said-dry alkalis or salts of alkahs for five or six hours. If salts of volatile acids are used they give off the acids and form dry salts of fatty acids and ammonla, sodium or potassium. These salts are mlxed with uncombined free fatty acids. If salts of weak non-volatile acids, for instance ammonium borate, are used they form thesame salts of fatty acids and ammonia, sodlum or potassium. These salts can be separated from free boric acid by melting the product; boric acid goes to the bottom. The quantities of alkalis used are difierent according to the alkalis and to the desired product. For instance, I use ammonium N H from 0.5% to 4.55. The more ammonia or other salts used, the higher is the melting point of the product and the harder is the product.

The anhydrous ammonia NH is allowed to freely commingle with the oils and fats for a period depending upon the amount to be treated with the anhydrous ammonia NH, The harder, it is desired to render the substance acted upon the more anhydrous ammonia NH should be used. The reaction, however, which takes place is to make the anhydrous ammonia NH combine with the fats or fatty acids to form an an hydrous ammonia salt which permeates the fatty material, raises its melting point for the purpose specified and for any other use to which the same may be used in the arts.

WVhat I claim is 1. The process of raising the melt-ing points of fatty acids thereby producing a harder and amorphous material consisting in treating the fatty acids in a granular or powdered or solid condition with an anhydrous alkali.

2. A process of raising the melting points of fatty acids for producing a harder and amorphous material consisting in treating the fatty acids in a granular or powdered solid condition with anhydrous ammonia NH,

3. The process of raising the melting points of fatty acids thereby producing a harder and amorphous material consisting of treating the fatty acids in a granular or powdered solid condition with anhydrous alkali.

4:. The process of combining an anhydrous alkali with fatty acids thereby producing a harder and amorphous material which consists in powdering or granulating the fatty acids and then mixing therewith an anhydrous alkali salt.

5. A process combining ammonia with fatty acids thereby producing a harder and amorphous material consisting in powdering or granulating the material to be treated, then mixing therewith an anhydrous ammonia salt whereby the ammonia will combine with the fatty acids forming anhydrous ammonia salt.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of August, 1908.

ANDREW SOLOMONOFF. \Vitnesses:

ANTHONY N. MARKERT, EDMUND 'BAUMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

